U.S. Threatens Retaliatory Strike in Response to Rocket Attack on U.S. Base in Iraq

March 4 , 2021 (EIRNS)—The White House indicated yesterday that the U.S. will retaliate for the March 3 rocket attack on the Ain al Assad air base in Iraq. “We are following that through right now,” Biden told reporters. “Thank God, no one was killed by the rocket, but one individual, a contractor, died of a heart attack. But we’re identifying who’s responsible and we’ll make judgments” about a response. White House press secretary Jen Psaki suggested that the “calculated” U.S. airstrike against Iraqi militias operating just across the border in Syria last week could be a model for a military response. “If we assess further response is warranted, we will take action again in a manner and time of our choosing,” Psaki said.

Unnamed U.S. officials told Reuters that yesterday’s rocket barrage fit the profile of an attack by Iran-backed militia, but the Pentagon said it was too soon to come to any conclusions. “We cannot attribute responsibility at this time, and we do not have a complete picture of the extent of the damage,” Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said in a statement yesterday. It still seems to be the case that no group has claimed responsibility for the attack.